Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has jumped to the defence of Michael Essien.

The on-loan Chelsea midfielder has copped pelters for his performances - out of position - so far this season.

Mourinho snapped: "I compare with Essien with the players that miss penalties in decisive matches. The ones who go down in history are those who miss, not the players who do not want it at the time. Baresi, Sergio Ramos, Roberto Baggio...

"Essien plays where I want, with the same attitude and mentality with which Real Madrid play and whilst making less money than at Chelsea. When the press called Khedira the number one fool and then two years later they say the team without Khedira is not as good then I cannot give much credence to what they write. I don't give them much credit."